Science & technology

Soon, ebook for visually impaired

Here comes the first ebook for children with visual impairments which would soon be available at Apple's iBook store and can be downloaded for free on iPads.

Helping the blind see SPACE: Astronomers 3D print Hubble images to reveal the beauty of stars

France leads the way on audiobooks for blind and visually impaired people

New technology and download services allow for fast and easy access

Electronic cane to support visually challenged

The cane developed by the VACSS is easy to use and costs a maximum of Rs. 2,500

In a smart world man has a number of gadgets to make his work and life comfortable and communicate faster. But for the visually challenged poor, it is still a cane that helps him/her find way. With increasing population and traffic and spaces becoming more crowded, its use is becoming difficult.

To help overcome the handicap, the Vision Aid Charitable Services Society (VACSS) here has come out with an electronic cane.

Talking ATM big boon for visually impaired

Madhu Singhal requested several banks to install a talking ATM. Now, the efforts of this visually impaired founder and managing trustee of Mitra Jyothi have paid off. The Union Bank of India's ATM at the National Institute of Fashion Technology in HSR Layout will be operational from Saturday.

Madhu said, "This ATM will prevent the visually-challenged from being taken for a ride by people who assist them in withdrawing money."

Banking app gives visual aid

Off the back of its recent win of the ‘Best Android Consumer App’ at the MTN App of the Year awards, Nedbank has enabled its banking app, Nedbank App Suite, to cater for the visually impaired.

STMicroelectronics Imaging Technology Helps Visually Impaired

STMicroelectronics(NYSE:STM), a global semiconductor leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications, announced that its 5.1 mega-pixel camera module and low-power digital image processor are being used in the revolutionary OrCam camera, a small device that clips on to eyeglasses and dramatically improves the mobility and ability of visually-impaired people to "read" signs, packaging and publications.

A page of vision created by the visually impaired

The uncanny vision of a group of students of the University of Pune’s (UoP) Blind Centre has worked wonders for the city’s visually challenged students, who were struggling to find writers for their examinations. The group has created a Facebook page, Drushti-Vision, through which they tapped hundreds of people readily offering to become their buddy writers during examinations.

Not only NGOs, but people from all sectors came forward to aid the visually challenged examinees. The idea of a Facebook page thus brought in a huge database for the UoP’s Blind Centre.

Startup creates navigator for the blind

A new Russian startup has developed a navigator with an audio guide that the visually-impaired could use to replace ultrasonic canes and other localizers.

Indian developers hope to launch the world's first Braille smartphone by 2014

Touchscreens have turned phones into computers. But the tech revolution has ignored the needs of the visually impaired. Now, Indian developers are working on the world's first Braille smartphone.